Gordon: No Delay In Checks To Ej

Whalers owner Richard Gordon Thursday denied he was delaying payments to Ed Johnston and said he plans on reaching an accelerated financial settlement with the former general manager within a week.

When he fired Johnston May 12, Gordon said he would honor the three years remaining on Johnston's contract worth a total of $875,000 ($275,000 this year and $300,000 in 1993 and '94).

Stories have circulated the Whalers, upset with some of Johnston's dealings, were tardy in sending checks to Johnston.

"That's not true," Gordon said. "He has gotten paid everything owed him."' In a column Sunday, Red Fisher of the Montreal Gazette wrote Johnston has told friends he may have to go to court to get all the money owed him.

It is no secret the Whalers were not happy about the provisions Johnston had made with Penguins general manager Craig Patrick to potentially send back goaltender Frank Pietrangelo to Pittsburgh. NHL bylaws forbid loaning players. There also were specifics in the affiliation deal with the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League and a new contract with former Whaler Yvon Corriveau where Johnston evidently didn't keep Gordon informed.

"I don't want a trial in the paper," Gordon said. "We just want to work out something satisfactory for both sides." Johnston said in August he would have no further comment to The Courant. Though the particulars of the settlement have not been reached, it likely will involve a lump sum payment and provisions to make mortgage payments on Johnston's Connecticut home